HOLZ UND
STEIN Fall 2017 Travel Studio
“Verum Ipsum Factum” The truth itself is made.
V A L S
B R T N I C E
P R A G U E
INTRODUCTION Wood and stone are two of the most ubiquitous construction materials in the history of architecture -both on the brink of ground-breaking changes as a result of new manufacturing technologies. The SAID 2017 travel studio, conducted by Professor Terry Boling, was crafted around the notion of examining these materials and their manifestations in situ in their native environments. We visited completed projects, toured architects’ offices, visited universities researching innovative construction methods, and worked for several days in one of the few remaining stonemason schools in Europe. Twelve 4th year architecture students and six 4th year interior design students participated in the travel, and were joined by Professors Jeff Tilman and Renee Martin for two week spots at the beginning and end of the trip respectively.
C H U R
Z A G R E B
The exhibition is organized around four regions; Bohemia (Vienna, Prague, and Budapest), Croatia (Zagreb, Split, Pucisca, and Bol), Northern Italy (Venice, Vicenza, Verona, and Milan), and Switzerland and the Vorarlburg in Austria. Each region is represented through photography, collage, and constructed artifacts.
B U D A P E S T
Upon returning, the students were asked to produce an exhibition that chronicled their journey. While not sufficient to simply represent what was experienced (seen, heard, tasted, and felt), the students were challenged to somehow synthesize the myriad sensations that comprised the trip through drawings and fabrications. Collage and Bricolage were used as techniques to capture the experiential memories of the trip and to re-construct them as generative tools; provocations for possibilities. The collages create new worlds through the manipulation and rearrangement of existing imagery, and the constructed artifacts act as detail machines- creating the DNA for future fabrications.
K R U M L O V
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D O R N B I R N
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MEET THE TRAVELERS Terry Boling Best foodie
Je Tilman Best translator
Christine Anneken Most caffeinated
Renee Martin Most likely to dance
Nathan Rumbaugh Most hangry
Via Lloyd-George Most likely to marry someone foreign
Anna Kendrick Best travel companion
Jonah Pruitt Best dad jokes
Shanna Sidell Most photos taken
John Garrison Best navigator
Blair Ramsey Best nickname (BABS)
Zoe Evans Most gelato consumed
Sri Sinha Most likely to spill a drink
Kriti Chaudhry Most baggage
Hannah Johnson Best dressed
Bailey Haussler Most abstract
Olivia Zepp Most likely to be on time
Alex Mehrer Most hydrated
Connor Kramer Most fun after one glass of wine
Jay Schairbaum Most athletic
Julie Niederlehner Most sassy
THE TRIP
B R N O
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V A L S B R E G E N Z
The Bohemia region is well-known in the world today primarily for its rich history and stylistic diversity. The city centers of Prague and Vienna have examples of every style of European architecture, and draw admiration for its diverse architectural landscape. Contemporary and historic buildings coexist in a strikingly innovative manner throughout the major cities of the region.
K R U M L O V B U D A P E S T
D O R N B I R N
BOHEMIA
C E S K Y
Bohemia consists of Gothic castles, bridges, and churches from the 14th century; the baroque palaces of the Hapsburg Monarchy, the Art Nouveau and neo-historical styles of 19th, and the internationally renowned quality of Czech cubist and functionalist architecture of the 20th century. The communist period of the 20th century severed this line of architectural continuity, and parts of this region bear the scars of this time.
Z A G R E B D U B R O V N I K S P L I T
V E R O N A
M I L A N
C H U R
T A B O R
Z U R I C H
V I E N N A
P U C I S C A
B O L
H V A R
V E N I C E
V I C E N Z A
PHOTOGRAPHY
SKETCHES
Graphite depth and form study of Wallenstein Palace in Prague, Czech Republic. Alex Mehrer
Graphite Study of roof condition in Budapest, Hungary. Olivia Zepp
Gestural graphite study of Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic. Jay Schairbaum
Ink study of Otto Wagner Bridge in Vienna, Austria. Christine Anneken
Graphite study of tobacco store entrance in Vienna, Austria Shoshanna SidelL
Ink sketch of historic gasometer facade in Vienna, Austria Zoe Evans
EXPERIENCE
Tour lead by Johann Traupmann of OAMTC Headquarters completed by PICHLER & TRAUPMANN ARCHITEKTEN in Vienna, Austria
Tour of the Austrian Postal Savings Bank designed by Otto Wagner
Students learn about the production of Austrian wine with a visit to the Winzer Krems vineyards.
Office tour of architecture and design firm feld72
Design partner Karolin Schmidbaur of Coop Himmelb(l)au leads students through a presentation and tour of the world- renowned office.
Tour of Mies van der Rohe’s Villa Tugendhat.
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T E L C
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P R A G U E
Precariously poised between the Balkans and central Europe, this land has been passed between competing kingdoms, empires and republics for millennia. If there’s an upside to this continual dislocation, it’s in the rich cultural legacy that each has left behind. Venetian palazzi snuggle up to Napoleonic forts, Roman columns protrude from early Slavic churches, and Austro/ Hungarian empire mansions face off with Socialist Realist sculpture. Excellent museums showcase treasures that cover the gamut of European history, from the prehistoric to the post-communist.
K R U M L O V
V A L S B R E G E N Z
CROATIA
C E S K Y B U D A P E S T Z A G R E B
C H U R
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PHOTOGRAPHY
SKETCHES
Watercolor Study of stone textures; Dubrovnik, Croatia. John Garrison
Watercolor Study of stone textures; Dubrovnik, Croatia. Srimoyee Sinha
Watercolor Study of stone textures; Dubrovnik, Croatia. Kriti Chaudhry
Watercolor Study of stone textures; Dubrovnik, Croatia. Blair Ramsey
Graphite and Micron Study; Split, Croatia. Hannah Johnson
Micron Pen Study of forms; Zagreb, Croatia Christine Anneken
EXPERIENCE
Students after a long day of work learning the art of hand carving stone at the Pucisca Stonemasonry School
Students visit a rock quarry on the island of Brac
Dina Jaksic led a tour of the Drazen Jaksic family stone workshop in the village of Donji Humac on the island of Brac
Tonci Vlahovic, director of the stone school in Pucisca, demonstrates a method for duplicating stone profiles
Students take a site visit to the Zagreb Dance Center designed by 3LHD Architects
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ITALY
C E S K Y
The urban scheme of cities of Northern Italy still reects their medieval upbringing – we see an interspersing of ancient and contemporary structures that form the urban fabric, punctuated by piazzas and perforated with networks of passageways. To move through these cities is often to move from landmark to landmark, many of which are conceived of with near obsessive attention to material and detail.
K R U M L O V B U D A P E S T
D O R N B I R N
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D U B R O V N I K
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PHOTOGRAPHY
SKETCHES
1 hour graphite shadow study at Villa Rotunda; Vicenza, Italy. Hannah Johnson
Analytical graphite study of joints; Venice, Italy. Connor Kramer
Graphite study of door detail and mechanics of motion; Brion Cemetary, Italy. Alex Mehrer
Villa Rotunda ceiling texture graphite study; Vicenza, Italy. Bailey Haussler
Graphite study of public space as a volume; Verona, Italy Jonah Pruitt
Graphite perspective and photo overlay study of Milan Cathedral; Milan, Italy. Julie Niederlehner
B R N O
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Switzerland, the land of four languages, is all about heart-racing Alpine pursuits and urban culture. Travels are mapped by picturesque villages with timber granaries built on stilts, and chalet farmsteads brightened with red geranium blossoms. Known not only for their hearty, avorsome, gooey cheese and velvety chocolate, but also for their turn of the century architectural innovations, Switzerland presents to you a refreshed combination of modern aesthetics, gastronomical intricacies, contemporary art and fresh-faced design.
K R U M L O V
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SWITZERLAND
C E S K Y B U D A P E S T Z A G R E B
C H U R
D O R N B I R N
T A B O R
Z U R I C H
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S P L I T
V E R O N A
M I L A N
D U B R O V N I K
P U C I S C A
B O L
H V A R
V E N I C E
V I C E N Z A
PHOTOGRAPHY
SKETCHES
Micron and Colored Pen Study; Vals, Switzerland. Shoshanna Sidell
Graphite and Charcoal Study of spaces; Bregenz. Anna Kendrick
Graphite and Charcoal Study of space; Bregenz. Olivia LLoyd George
Graphite and Charcoal Study of Roman Ruins; Chur, Switzerland Hannah Johnson
Graphite and Charcoal Study of space; Bregenz. Nathan Rumbaugh
Graphite and Color Pencil Study of light; Bregenz Blair Ramsey
EXPERIENCE
Erich Biehle lead students on a tour through the Zurich Museum of Design showcasing textiles created for Yves Saint Laurent
Erich Biehle invited the group to his studio, where he presented his current work in progress and discussed his intricate process of print and pattern making
THE STUDIO
MAP A tactile representation of our travel destinations, the map is a tectonic manifestation of regional materials and construction sensibility. Its main supports are reclaimed lumber which anchor nine red oak frames into a 3 by 3 grid. On the grid’s surface lies a sprinkling of materials, each representative of the region it covers along with collaged images retrieved from brochures that were collected from the trip. The layered composition emphasizes detail at the intersections of these differing materials, including pocketed brackets at corners and anchor plates which hold the frames.
Acrylic medium adheres the diverse materials, textures, and collage elements to the map
Construction of the reclaimed lumber skeletal structure
Collage materials specific to each city help bring about the local spirit and help provide a sense of the visual identity of the region The team plans out their design
FINAL GALLERY INSTALLATION
PHOTO REEL Born out of the idea of making one universal link for the whole exhibit, the tripod system is an armature for exhibiting the specific everyday experiences from the trip through a series of linearly arranged photos that correspond to the region they are adjacent to within the gallery. Its continual line throughout the gallery serves as a visual and physical connector to the regions, and contrasts the macro scale of the gallery organization with its micro scale photos. The photo reel tripods are made of found and highly custom pieces that emulate a fusion of old photo reels and photographic tripods, while using materials that speak to all of the regions visited on the trip.
Custom metal clasps to add strength to the tripods are being welded
Stone weights sit as the epoxy holding in their newly attached hardware dries
The team carefully assembles the legs of the tripods in the wood shop
Galvanized hardware is oxidized in hydrogen peroxide to remove their zinc plating for a more natural and worn appearance Completed tripods await their stone weights and reels
FINAL GALLERY INSTALLATION
BOHEMIA Students utilized collage to explore the opportunities and spatial qualities of layering independent spaces from varying cities within each region to create a new overall spatial composition that personifies the region as a whole. Images of prominent locations were used as well as significant materials and textures indigenous to each region.
DETAIL MACHINE Bohemia is remarkable for its innovative uses of plaster as a luxurious surface condition and its abstraction from the classical language. To learn about the Bohemian ways of building, students began casting a series of plaster molds using varying techniques true to the architectural styles of the region. These explorations lead to an understanding of the tradition of craft and the methods of fabrication specific to Bohemia. Shadow boxes were developed for the tiles, each box serving as both structure and an exterior surface, a reference to exposing the underlying structural framing of typical bohemian construction. The frames surrounding the shadow boxes accentuate the features of the time period represented by the cast within.
Shadow box and frame pin connection and steel attachment to supporting structure
Tests of inlay techniques with gold leaf
Team explores frame options for each piece to accentuate period and style Early experiments of surface texture on plaster casts Plaster in the process of being frescoed in the style of Klimt painting “Judith�
FINAL GALLERY INSTALLATION
CROATIA COLLAGES
DETAIL MACHINE The time in Croatia was based entirely on the region’s most famous material: stone. Students got the chance to learn stone carving techniques from Croatian stonemasons at their internationally acclaimed stone school: Klesarska Škola (The Pucisca Stonemason School on the island of Brač). This knowledge and experience became the driving force for the detail machine. The video provides a glimpse of the days at the stone school, where students were exposed to stone carving for the first time. Pictured below is a multi-image rendition of the stone quarry on Brač, the home of limestone. The final structure is the constructed stone wall, built exploring linear layering of stone, thick vs. thin, and smooth vs. rough. The assembly reveals the precision required to build dry-stacked stone walls, reminiscent of the stone constructions in Croatia.
Early iteration of an inorganic layout Layered stone structure Squaring rough cut edges with contemporary stone cutting tools
Initial study to understand layering and stone construction
Photo montage of Brac limestone quarry
FINAL GALLERY INSTALLATION
ITALY COLLAGES
DETAIL MACHINE In considering Northern Italian ways of building and designing, students began by creating three-dimensional bricolage of various available materials such as repurposed metals and woods. These explorations led to an intense emphasis on joinery and connections. Further iterations of the assemblies led to the creation of a series of inter-linked frames within a larger structural armature. Each frame holds a design piece inspired by works seen in Italy, and their organization within the field harkens back to the organization of the medieval Italian city with its squares and monuments and the journey in between.
Early conceptual collage
Screen element cooling after a long welding session
Early iteration of support system
FINAL GALLERY INSTALLATION
SWITZERLAND COLLAGES
DETAIL MACHINE Swiss building construction relies heavily on the available materials in the forested areas of the country, namely weathered wood, crosslaminated timber (CLT), and layered wooden screens. Students constructed a structural armature using Douglas fir reinforced with custom steel turnbuckles, and an exterior cladding of thin walnut strips- articulated both as CLT panels and as perforated light screens, which recall the layering and stacking of materials seen in building facades in Switzerland. The dark walnut wood is reminiscent of the weathered wood seen in Switzerland, while the Douglas fir was used to articulate the lighter interior construction, a dialogue commonly seen in Swiss architecture. Angles made of rolled steel were used to connect the structural studs to each other.
Preparing strips of walnut for cross-lamination
Casting of concrete base for final design
Connection studies between materials Laminated pieces of walnut are clamped while they dry
Final design in production
FINAL GALLERY INSTALLATION
THANK YOU